Page:Chemical Weapons Act 1996.pdf/14

12c. 6 :(b) if the Secretary of State’s belief relates to equipment, no person appeared to the Secretary of State to have the equipment in his possession, and
 * (c) no person appeared to the Secretary of State to have an interest which the Secretary of State believed would be materially affected by the destruction or alteration of the equipment or building.

(3) If—
 * (a) a justice of the peace is satisfied on information on oath that the qualifying condition is fulfilled, or
 * (b) in Scotland a justice, within the meaning of section 307 of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995, is satisfied by evidence on oath that the qualifying condition is fulfilled,

he may issue a warrant in writing authorising a person acting under the authority of the Secretary of State to take remedial action under this section.

(4) If a person is authorised by a warrant to take remedial action under this section he may—
 * (a) enter the land on which the equipment or building is situated, if necessary by force;
 * (b) do whatever is required to secure that the equipment or building is destroyed or altered in a manner specified in the proposals drawn up by the Secretary of State;
 * (c) take with him such other persons and such equipment as appear to him to be necessary to help him to exercise the powers mentioned in paragraphs (a) and (b).

(5) The powers conferred on an authorised person under this section shall only be exercisable, if the warrant so provides, in the presence of a constable.

(6) If anything is done in exercise of the powers mentioned in this section, the Secretary of State may recover from a responsible person any costs reasonably incurred by the Secretary of State in connection with the exercise of those powers; and a responsible person is—
 * (a) in the case of equipment, any person in possession of the equipment at the time the land is entered;
 * (b) in the case of a building, any person occupying the land at the time it is entered.

16.—(1) This section applies if a person claims that—
 * (a) any equipment or building has been destroyed or altered in compliance with a notice falling within section 13(3) or has been destroyed or altered under section 14,
 * (b) he had an interest which was materially affected by the destruction or alteration and he sustained loss as a result, and
 * (c) no copy of a notice was served on him under section 13.

(2) This section also applies if a person claims that—
 * (a) any equipment or building has been destroyed or altered under section 15, and